Video: Baby born on garage forecourt near Cromer

Julia Macklin , right, back at Alby Service Station with her daughter Chelsea Nelson, where Julia delivered her grandson, Mason Cox, in her car. Picture: Denise Bradley

copyright: Archant 2014

It was a case of all hands to the pump as a mother helped deliver her daughter’s baby on a garage forecourt.

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One-day-old Mason Cox, who was born at Alby Service Station, delivered by his grandmother. Picture: Denise Bradley

Mason Cox popped into the world at Alby garage as his mum Chelsea Nelson, from North Walsham, was being driven to hospital in the early hours of the morning.

The 20-year-old expectant mum told her mother, who was at the wheel, she needed to “push” as they were just minutes into their journey.

They pulled up at the A140 fuel stop between Cromer and Aylsham – and nine minutes later Mason arrived, weighing in at 7lb, in the front seat of her small red Ford Ka at 5.49am. Chelsea’s mum Julia Macklan, 40, from Craft Lane, Northrepps, said: “She was making quite a racket at 5.30am.

“I got past Roughton and she said she needed to push and I thought ‘oh no’.

“I pulled up at the Alby garage at 5.40am and called 999. Within nine minutes Mason was born.

“It was one of those situations where you had a choice. It was happening and I was the only one there and I had to get on with it.

“The fact I delivered him was great. We were close before but this has made us stronger.”

In contrast Chelsea’s other son Riley, now two, took three days of labour in hospital.

Grandmother Mrs Macklan, who works at Mundesley Golf Club, added: “I thought it was going to be a quicker birth than Riley’s but not that quick.”

Paramedics who arrived at the filling station to help were “amazed”, along with friends and family when they learned of the DIY roadside birth – and Mrs Macklan admitted she shed tears of joy and relief while following the ambulance to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

“I was so honoured and proud of Chelsea. It was something that was very special,” she added.

Proud new mum Chelsea, from Hadfield Road, first texted her mother at 3.30am after waking up with stomach pains.

But by the time Mrs Macklan arrived at North Walsham at 4.45am to collect her, the contractions were stronger and happening every two minutes.

Chelsea added: “It was so quick, I couldn’t believe it.

“My mum was brilliant and absolutely amazing. I love saying to people she delivered her grandson. I would rather her do it than anyone else. I just wanted to get my baby out. I felt relief after he was born.”

Both mother and baby are doing well and Mason was described as content and “as quiet as a mouse”.

The garage was not open at the time but the manager was inside the building.

He only found out a baby had been born on the forecourt the day after the birth.

The manager, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I was here at 5.30am and remember seeing an ambulance with its lights flashing. I carried on and switched the lights on because I thought it needed filling up.

“I’m glad the garage was there for them to deliver the baby. I’m glad everything went smoothly and good luck to them.”

Do you have a dramatic story from north Norfolk? Email sophie.wyllie@archant.co.uk.